1.25.2012

{inspired} creating your own style

I had a weird epiphany this weekend. Chris and I were out running errands Saturday afternoon and we innocently stopped by a Pottery Barn. As I wandered around the gorgeously styled place setting, bedrooms and bathrooms, I had a weird feeling niggling at me. You know those feelings that you can't quite put your finger on? It didn't occur to me until later that the feeling was actually disappointment.

I've always loved Pottery Barn. I loved spending time in their stores. I loved receiving their catalogs, from which I would tear out page after page for my inspiration folder. A few years ago I would've been so happy if I could've decorated my entire house from that store.

But I sense something shifting in me. Walking through the Pottery Barn this weekend, I couldn't help feel that everything fell a little ... flat. Sure if I pick a piece of theirs up here and there I make it personal. I do have and LOVE these dishes. But gone are the days of my wanting to pick up an entire room of theirs and bring it home.

I blame this on blogs. But, not in a bad way. :) Reading blogs, writing my own blog, have really opened my eyes to so many different ways of creating a space. Now, when I need to put a room together I look in many, many places for inspiration and I choose what works best for me (and Chris :). I pick pieces that I love and try to stay away from my room looking like any other room. I choose pieces that I can transform and make into my own. As I continue to learn and refine my own personal style I realize that I am most comfortable in rooms that are a little quirky, a little traditional and a little fun.

I don't mean this to post to be down on Pottery Barn. Their items are gorgeous and I'm sure it would happen if I walked into any big chain store (well, maybe not you West Elm ;). I just hadn't realized this change that was occurring in me. It caught me a little off guard. I had really dove into looking at our style last year (here and here), but it's nice to have another piece of that puzzle fall into place.

Blog friends, what changes have you seen to your style since you started your blog? How do you feel about stores that encourage/inspire all rooms looking similar? I am very curious to see what you guys have to say about this! :)

17 comments:

I completely understand, & I'm not even living in a house yet, but I think I still prefer my own quirkiness. Not that I wouldn't LOVE some furniture from PB or WE, but yeah, a gathered collection of items is definitely more personal.

Well put! When we got a new Pottery Barn catalog last week I eagerly opened it up but felt myself rushing through many pages and finding it just a little blah. My eye has been changing and the blog world has been so valuable in teaching me that combining things really is what helps to make a room feel right. Taking a bunch of stuff from one store, however lovely that store may be, will leave a room looking flat and not feeling like you!

So I absolutely love that shot of your gallery wall. I could seriously stare at it all.day.long! And I love that you have fallen into your own style! Each PB catalog that has come in the mail in the last 6 months has gone straight to the trashcan because it always makes me feel like my house needs to be rustic, and farmhousey and white. But our style is definitely colorful (hello, West Elm, lets be BFF ok?) and not subdued like so many others out there.

Watching the changes you have made in your house through the blog has actually encouraged me to be bold and not so scared of color and what I LIKE, versus what everyone else likes. Like your back entry and hallway makeovers... those are so inspiring!

I have noticed a similiar change. Now when I am looking for a change in a room, I don't think about going out and buying something; instead I look for what I can change with paint or fabric or move from another room. It is great to know that I am not contributing to the disposable society as much as I had in the past. I also feel that the things that I "change" mean more to me than something that I can buy done.

Though we've rented numerous places before, we were always on a student budget and never had much freedom in those rental spaces so things from popular interior design stores like PB/WE etc were always somewhat whimsical *someday* thoughts.

Now that we've been in our house for 2.5 years I've been able to play with different ideas & styles (to a point, still have a long way to go) & it's interesting to see IRL what I really like, and what works for me stylistically.

I think to make a space truly 'yours' you have to let your style develop organically. It would be easy enough to buy a catalogue room but that doesn't mean you're going to continue like it as your taste changes/grows.

Ever since discovering Catalog Living (http://catalogliving.net/), I can't take those catalogs very seriously. It's a good thing.

Decor farm houses (matchy matchy, like a scene from PB or WE or RH or CB or...) are so dull. OK, so this is exposing an embarrassing, judgmental part of my brain, but I think they reflect badly on their owners!

I feel exactly the same way. A couple of years ago I would have loved a catalog house. Blogs have opened my eyes and inspired me to create a more unique home. It's liberating to not feel compelled to go out and buy buy buy. So much more fun to hunt for something unique and special...or make it myself.

Ah yes, Pottery Barndom. I still occasionally go in to browse their displays and styling, but purchasing every single piece of a display is just silly. I have a much greater appreciation for a collected home and gathering items that have meaning to you and your loved ones. I'm no longer disappointed when a room isn't "finished" because I haven't quite found the right piece to finish it off (ok, maybe I get a little impatient but I want the piece to be the right one not just something I picked up as a filler). I still have friends who LOVE Pottery Barn and want every single thing to be PB. To each their own, but I don't think that speaks to the individual. Nice post Jenn!

Jenn, Couldn't agree more! As much as I want to love Pottery Barn, I haven't in probably 5-6 years... I feel like it looks the same every single year and is not evolving with the times. This means I can still count on them for basics... lamps, mirrors, sheets, etc, but some of these things even are just a little bland for my colorful taste which has also evolved over the years. No more beige... blah! I feel like Pottery Barn is still stuck in beige, brown, light blue land. The beauty of home design is freedom of expression, and there is something for everyone. :)

I definitely love the eclectic concept. Mixing different genres together along with your personal pieces seems like the way to go. It's kind of like putting together an outfit. Wearing an outfit where all of the pieces came from the same store can tend to be boring. Mixing it up is key!

About Me

Hi, I'm Jenn. And, I'm married to Chris. This blog is a place to capture my inspirations on our quest to transform our bungalow into a place we're proud to call home. Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you find something useful, entertaining, or even inspiring while here.